Giant African Olive Millipede
Telodeinopus aoutii
No venom, no sting
Millipedes don't bite or sting and have no venom. Many do secrete defensive chemicals when stressed, so wash your hands after handling and keep them away from your eyes and mouth.
Secretes benzoquinones
Stains skin brown for several days and stings badly in the eyes or on broken skin. Wash your hands after handling, don't rub your face, and keep it well away from small children.
About
A large, olive-toned African millipede — and, unusually, a good climber, so give it branches and bark in addition to a deep (4+ inch) moist substrate. Keep warm (75-82°F) and humid (70-90%). A detritivore that also takes fruit, veg, lichen, and the occasional high-protein item (fish flakes); always provide calcium. Docile and long-lived, but releases a large amount of staining defensive fluid when disturbed — handle gently and wash hands afterward, keeping it away from your eyes.
Taxonomy
Size & growth
Millipedes molt underground in a small chamber and can stay buried for weeks. If yours has disappeared into the substrate, leave it be — digging it up mid-molt can kill it.
Climate
Enclosure
Feeding
Times kept: 0